Book-rack



J. MURPHY. Book Rack.

No. 229,740. Patented July 6,1880.

dgZZZ/TOR BY WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JAMES MURPHY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

BOOK-RACK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 229,740, dated July 6,1880.

Application filed January 23, 1880.

new and improved book-rack which can be changed in position, whendesired, so as to serve as a book-rest.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of theback of a pew or bench provided with my improved rack. Fig. 2 is across-sectional elevation of the same on the line as m, Fig. 1, showingthe board raised to serve as a book-rest. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalelevation of the same on the line no 00, Fig. 1, showing the boardlowered to serve as a book-rack.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A board, A, is pivoted between the two uprights B B of a pew, bench, orother seat by means of the two pivots O O, which may be of wood ormetal, and may be fastened either to the shelves or to the uprights B B.A narrow strip, D, of wood or some other suitable material, is fastenedto the back E of the seat in such a manner that when the shelf islowered, as shown in Fig. 3, this narrow strip will form the bottom of arack, the sides of which are formed by the back E and the board A. Astrip of wood or like material, F, of the same thickness as the strip D,and havingits upper end beveled, is fastened to each upright B in such amanner that the upper part of the board A rests on the inclines of thestrips when the same is raised. A catch, G, is pivoted to the upright Bnear the back E.

The board A may be plain, slotted, perforated, or ornamental, and isprovided with a ledge, H, at the lower edge, to prevent the book fromslipping off.

In case the seat has no uprights between which the shelf can be pivoted,any suitable kind of standards through which the pivots C O can pass maybe attached to the seat.

Plain or ornamental backs and ends can also be made to receive thepivoted shelf A, thus making a complete and portable book-rack orbook-rest which can be secured wherever required by means of screws ornails.

Ordinarily the board A is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the bookis placed into the rack formed by the strip D, the board A, and the backE. When in this position the board is out of the way, and permits ofeasily entering or leaving the pew or seat.

To adjust the board as a book-rest the catch G is raised in thedirection of the arrow (1/ and the board is raised in the direction ofthe arrow b until its upper part rests on the inclined surfaces of thestrips F F. The catch G is then moved in theinverse direction of thearrow a until it looks the board in the position shown in Fig. 2,holding the same firm and tight.

The board can also be used without the strips D and F; but neverthelessthey are preferable.

The rack may be modified by making the ledge H of such breadth towardthe back E of the seat as to form the bottom of the rack when the boardA is in the position shown in Fig. 3, dispensing with the strip D.

If dirtor dust collects in the rack, it will fall down onto the floor assoon as the board A is raised in the direction of the arrow 1).

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent The combination, with the pivoted board A, of thecatch G and the strip D, substantially as herein shown and described,and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES MURPHY.

Witnesses:

HENRY B. ANDREWS, ALBERT I. MANERMANN.

